The Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-LA) and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California today condemned Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Assistant Chief Blake Chow after he reportedly attended an event intended to honor the Israeli military.
Assistant Chief Chow’s alleged social media posts show him posing with an Israeli military officer at the event and proclaiming his tacit support for the Israeli military.
In a statement, CAIR-LA Executive Director Hussam Ayloush said:
“It is deeply concerning that a ranking member of the law enforcement body responsible for protecting all Angelenos, including Palestinians, Arabs, and Muslims, would attend an event in support of a foreign military that is committing a genocide. In the last seven months, Israel has killed more than 35,000 Palestinian civilians, most of them women and children, and countless human rights organizations have attested that the Israeli military is committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
“His attendance sends a clear message that Assistant Chief Chow has lost the credibility of valuing, and unbiasedly serving, the Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities in Los Angeles. This is particularly troubling given the recent rise in hate towards these communities.
“We demand that Assistant Chief Chow no longer be considered to fill the role of LAPD police chief and that he be removed from all roles that could jeopardize the trust and safety of any of Los Angeles’ communities.”
CAIR-LA and Shura Council sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and the LAPD Board of Police Commissioners demanding that:
1. Assistant Chief Chow no longer be considered to fill the role of the LAPD police chief.
2. Assistant Chief Chow be removed from his role overseeing the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau, Transit Bureau, Detective Bureau, and the 2028 Olympics Planning Group.
3. Assistant Chief Chow make a public apology rescinding his support for a foreign military and recognizing why such a statement is problematic and harmful to many Angelenos.
CAIR-LA is Southern California’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACT: CAIR-LA Communications Coordinator Madi Morse-Hameed, mmorse-hameed@cair.com